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April 2005 Sightings
Hampshire, Hampden & Franklin Counties of Massachusetts
First of the Year in RED

April 1 - Friday - Partly Cloudy , 50s. Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs calling.

NORTHAMPTON (from Pete Yeskie) Small flock of rusty blackbirds at entrance of West meadows.

NORTH HADLEY (from Heather McQueen) On the pond - 3 Buffleheads, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Common Mergansers, Phoebe. On the River - 1 DC Cormorant, 6 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Tree Swallows, 3 Wood Ducks, Phoebe.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) State Hospital trails: Wood Duck (2), Black Duck (10), Mallard (15)...all the waterfowl in a flooded field. Also had Killdeer (1), Song Sparrow (12), Red Winged Blackbird (7) and other usuals ARCADIA marsh, oxbow and Danks Pond: Most waterfowl is in the area near Danks Pond, with a few scattered in the marsh and oxbow. The ice is rapidly dwindling throughout and the water level is still rising a bit...another few inches of rain will really flood the whole area out. Ring Necked Duck (13), Wood Duck (16), Hooded Merganser (1), Common Merganser (11), Black Duck (30+), Mallard (180+), Canada Geese (11), Eastern Phoebe (1), Kingfisher (1), Brown Creeper (2), Eastern Bluebird (2), Song Sparrow (5), Junco (15+), a few Red Winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles too. Also had a couple of beavers in the marsh and up along the river to the wood duck pond. Another couple Mourning Cloaks. In addition the frogs are really getting vocal in a few of the vernal pools.

TURNERS FALLS+ (from Taj Schottland) Today at Bartons Cove there were 11 Tree Swallows. Power Canal - 2 Red-necked Grebes. Connecticut river in HADLEY I saw 1 Bonaparte's Gull. I found the group of ring-necked ducks in Northampton at the Old Mill River but no Redhead.

WARE (posted to Massbird by David Norton) The marsh on Rt. 9 in Ware finally has some open water....there were two ducks on the ice last week under one of the nest boxes, looking a bit silly as I drove by. Today three hooded mergansers were in the water, two males and a female. One male and the female waddled up onto the ice, and the female flew up into the box. The male stood close by, then sat down on the ice, seeming to look rather smugly at the other male in the water a couple of yards away. There were quite a number of tree swallows flitting about, and many grackles and redwing blackbirds.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH - Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Weather: Overcast and very foggy during the watch. Wind SW 5 mph. Temperature 46-48.5 F. Observations: First Osprey of the year -- going south (a little April Fool's Day joke on us), and one Kestrel. Non-migrant: one Turkey Vulture. Great Blue Heron, Killdeer (2), Gull species (audible in fog overhead), Eastern Bluebird, American Robins (16+), Red-winged Blackbirds (unknown number audible downhill), Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackles (at least 7, probably many more with the Red-winged Blackbirds).

SHUTESBURY (from Heather McQueen) While checking out bluebird boxes at dusk we also saw the following; A dozen robins, 3 Turkey Vultures, Woodcocks peenting.

TURNERS FALLS (from Harvey Allen) Barton Cove - 5 Gadwall. Rod & Gun Club - 50 Ring-necked Ducks, 100 Common Mergansers, 1 Scaup Species (probable Greater).

April 2 - Saturday - Rain all day

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner) Spent a couple hours around rain soaked Hadley this morning. The areas to view waterfowl are increasing by the hour out here. Here are some of the highlights... HADLEY-E.Hadley Rd. BONAPARTE'S GULL-1 (AD) Ring-billed Gull (50) Herring Gull (1) E. Bluebirds (2) Rte 47 8 R.N.Duck Hadley Cove & Aqua Vitae RD. I was surprised that Aqua Vitae Rd is still passable, but who knows for how long. 15 Wood Duck 6 Black Duck Mallards 13 R.N Duck 5 Hadley- No.Hadley Rd. Wood ducks 10 Gr. Winged Teal 2 Mallards 12 Hooded Merganser -1f. Comins/Roosvelt Rd Canada Goose 3? Gr.winged Teal 3 Killdeer 2 R.W. Blackbird 200+ Br.Headed Cowbird 50 Co. Grackle 82

TURNERS FALLS+ (from Chris Gentes) Not much at all - water very high and turbid. Rod and Gun Club - 6 Bufflehead, 7 Common Mergansers, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Hooded Merganser. Barton Cove- 19 Tree Swallow. Power Canal - a few mallards, 1 Common Goldeneye, 1 Ring-necked Duck. DEERFIELD - Still Water Rd - 3 Wood Ducks, 3 Killdeer. HATFIELD - Depot Road - 3 Green-winged Teal. Great Pond - 20 Wood Ducks, 10 Black Ducks. HADLEY - Horse Farm - 27 Killdeer, 1 Kestrel.

April 3 - Sunday - Breezy and Cool sun-rain-clouds River near Flood Stage

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) I just had a flock of Evening Grosbeaks fly over. Also the E. Phoebe was back a week early.

NORTH HADLEY (from Harvey Allen) On Knightly Road in North Hadley, Harvey had a Lesser Black-backed Gull, an Iceland Gull, a male Harrier and a Kestrel along with hundreds of ring-billed gulls.

LONGMEADOW (from Chris Gentes) in Longmeadow Heather and I saw 65 Ring-necked Ducks, 7 Green-winged Teal, Mute Swan and Canada Geese on nests, a migrating Osprey and 50 Tree Swallows. We ran into Chris Surprenant who pointed us toward a Merlin that was perched on a tree eating a sparrow.

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) After spending some quality time with hundreds of Northern Shovelers at Bosque Del Apache, N.M. in early March, I can confidently report a pair of these birds flying up the Connecticut River this afternoon. This pair (male and female) were seen from Pauchaug Brook WMA in Northfield. Much waterfowl movement today with Tree Swallow numbers starting to build along the swollen river.

EASTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Field across from Danks Pond: Green Winged Teal (4), Wood Duck (4), Ring Necked Duck (4), Black Duck (20+), Mallard (150+), Canada Geese (8), Great Blue Heron (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Coopers Hawk (1) adult and a few Red Winged Blackbirds. Danks Pond and Oxbow: Ring Necked Duck (9), Wood Duck (4), Common Merganser (10), Black Duck (6), Mallard (35+), Bald Eagle (1) adult. Also a beaver and a muskrat in the oxbow. Easthampton Rd (Rt 10) Northampton near the gas station past earle St: Wood Duck (10) in flooded area.

April 4 - Monday - Partly Sunny, Breezy and Cool

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Male and female Bluebird feeding around box #4 on April 3 in the late afternoon. Male perched and singing on box #4 and went into box #4 April 4 am. Eagle flying over field across road heading to Atkins Reservoir. Phoebes phoebes everywhere.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday April 4

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed in Hatfield on Depot Road Thursday, but not seen over the weekend. The NORTHERN SHOVELER was also reported in Great Pond in Hatfield on Thursday, but again not not found over the weekend.

A pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen flying over Northfield.

On Pondside Road in Longmeadow there was a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 40 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and an OSPREY.

Ducks present in Hatfield recently included 3 AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and 20 WOOD DUCKS. Also seen were 2 WILSON’S SNIPE.

In Turners Falls there were 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 9 BUFFLEHEAD, 150 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 60 COMMON MERGANSERS, 40 TREE SWALLOWS, and 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS.

On East Hadley Road in Hadley there was an adult BONAPARTE’S GULL.

Seen elsewhere in Hadley were 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and 25 WOOD DUCKS. In a flock of gulls browsing in a corn field in Sunderland there was a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and an ICELAND GULL.

Many AMERICAN WOODCOCK as well as an OSPREY were reported in Amherst.

In Southwick there were 25 RING-NECKED DUCKS and 10 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, in Great Barrington there was a BLACK VULTURE, in Pittsfield a BUFFLEHEAD.

In Lenox and Westfield FISH CROWS were reported.

Seen on the Granville hawk watch this week were 7 TURKEY VULTURES, an OSPREY, 2 BALD EAGLES, a NORTHERN HARRIER, 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 3 COOPER’S HAWKS, 11 RED-TAILED HAWKS, and 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS.

Counted at the Barre Falls hawk watch were 39 TURKEY VULTURES, a BALD EAGLE, 5 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 7 RED-TAILED HAWKS, and 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS.

April 5 - Tuesday - Sunny and Pleasant

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Some Killdeer and a pair of Wood Ducks by the mall, and a flushed Woodcock by Hop Brook. Along the bike path seven Phoebes.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) 7 Common Mergansers on Paradies Pond and a Phoebe that wouldn't stop singing. Still stoneflies here and there.

GRANBY (posted to Massbird by Bill Benner) I took a beautiful but too-short walk around the pond this morning before work, again mostly looking for butterflies (no luck--still haven't seen any this spring..) Circling and fishing over the pond was my first Osprey of the spring, in perfect light in a clear blue sky. The beaver below the house has caused a considerable number of treefalls over the winter, but it's great to have him there--the bank of the pond there is now much more open. A number of Eastern Phoebes were around as well. A beautiful spring morning.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Visitors: Three incendiaries. Weather: Sunny, with high thin clouds. Wind WNW 10-20 mph. Temperature 43-54 F. During the afternoon, the local blueberry farmers burned half the hilltop and created a lot of smoke. Observations: A steady trickle of birds. Two different male Harriers were a treat to see. Non-migrants: 5 Turkey Vultures, Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, 2 or 3 Red-tails. NORTHERN SHRIKE, reappearing after nine days' absence. This bird was first seen on Oct. 28th of last year.Also: Canada Geese (70), Gull species (18+), Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallows (4), Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird (male).

NORTHAMPTON (from Jonathan Gottsche) As I was coming back from the land fill on Rte. 66 I stopped at the brook and got an American Redstart, I couldn't believe it.

AMHERST (from Harvey Allen) Saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

April 6 - Wednesday - Sunny and Warm

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Just past the golf course on the left hand side of the bike path, heading towards Amherst I heard 2 Pine Warblers singing, and then observed one of them. Other observations: Saw 1 Snipe near the self store, next to some water, didn't flush it for once. Saw and heard 6 Mockingbirds between Middle St and the Garden center. Heard Robins singing or calling for the entire trip, (lost count). Saw 5 seperate incidents Robins chasing each other, crossing the bike path in front of me while doing so. Saw a female Cardinal with a twig in her mouth near the garden center. Heard many male Cardinals singing during the entire trip but lost count. Heard many Song Sparrows singing, nearly the entire trip. Observed a Fish Crow perched on a utility pole behind Bread and Circus, calling; another crow came over and offered it a bit of something, which it ate. Obsereved what seemed to be a pair of Killdeer chase off a third in corn field past the mall. Heard 7 Phoebes singing total for the entire trip. Heard 1 Carolina Wren where there is always one, near the bridge over Snell St. Juncos and White throated Sparrows heard singing constantly from the golf course to Amherst College.

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) Along flooded Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley this morning: GWTeal-6 Wood Duck-10 Ring-necked Duck-10 Redtail-1 AKestrel-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Killdeer-2 Kingfisher-1 Flicker-2 American Pipit-8 or 9 Tree Swallow-1 On East Hadley Road: Wilson's Snipe-13

HADLEY (from Pete Yeskie) In the flooded fields off Aqua Vitae Road there were 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 55 Ring-necked Ducks, and 7 Green-winged Teal.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Oxbow and Danks Pond- Pied Billed Grebe (2)..maybe a third, Ring necked Duck (12), Wood Duck (11), Eastern Phoebe (2), Killdeer (1), Tree Swallow (1)...plus other usuals. NORTHAMPTON- State hospital trails: Field Sparrow (1), Fish Crow (1), Killdeer (1). NORTHAMPTON-Fitzgerald Lake-Ruby Crowned Kinglet (3), Hermit Thrush (3), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Golden Crowned Kinglet (10+), Hooded Merganser (2), Wood Duck (7). Also had some fresh moose tracks near the blind. HADLEY- Aqua Vitae Rd, mid afternoon: Greater Yellowlegs (3), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), Wilson's Snipe (1), Killdeer (3), Field Sparrow (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Green Winged Teal (2), Ring Necked Duck (38), Wood Duck (1), Northern Flicker (2)

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Doug James, Herman D'Entremont, John Weeks, Oakes Spaulding, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg Weather: Mostly cloudy (high thin clouds) and very hazy. Wind NE 5 during a.m. hours, variable (but tending to S) during p.m. hours. Temperature 52-66 F. Observations: Our biggest day so far, led by Sharpies (37). Five Ospreys went through, one of them carrying a fish. Four Harriers, none of them adult males, passed by. Thick haze made ID difficult, and impossible in several cases. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, one juvenile Bald Eagle, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks. Great Blue Heron, Snow Geese (22), Canada Geese (50 migrants), Killdeer, Barred Owl (heard), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (first of year), Northern Flicker (first of year), Tree Swallows (3), Golden-crowned Kinglets (2), Eastern Bluebirds (2), Field Sparrow (first of year). Two Mourning Cloaks, skipper species.

GRANBY (from Harvey Allen) Saw a Red-shouldered Hawk and a Pine Warbler.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) 4 Woodcocks displaying at dusk. Male bluebird perched on #1 this and 2 male purple finches.

April 7 - Thursday - Cloudy and Mild

HATFIELD (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) Some highlights from Great Pond this afternoon: Wood Duck-6 GWTeal-3 AWigeon-2 Hooded Merg-2 RNDuck-10 Redtail-pair copulating NFlicker-1 RCKINGLET-2 PALM WARBLER-2 VESPER SPARROW-1 The road from King St. is still flooded, but it is receding fast. I got a second-hand report of a few Greater Yellowlegs on Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley.

DEERFIELD (from Dave Mako) I suspect it is an oversight that no one seems to have logged in Chipping Sparrows yet. For the record, I saw 4 of them come up to feed in the grass below the window of a classroom at Deerfield Elementary School today.

DEERFIELD (posted to Massbird by Rob Ranney-Blake) First Chipping Sparrow of the year arrived in our yard in Deerfield today. Also a male Purple Finch and three Goldfinches. I'd seen only one Goldfinch in the neighborhood since mid-February. Yesterday (4/6) the power canal in Turners Falls had a pair of Common Goldeneyes, three Ring-necked Ducks, a few Mallards and Canada Geese.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg, Sol Satin Weather: Overcast and hazy; wind generally light and southerly. Temperature 57-71 F. Observations: Another decent day, with Sharpies (60) again in the forefront. Our first Broad-wing of the season (adult at 12:54 EDT). Seven Harriers, of which two were males flying together (a first for Blueberry Hill). Merlin (f.o.s.) buzzing an Osprey at 12:26 EDT. Non-migrants: Cooper's (m + f), Red-shouldered (2), Red-tails (3). Great Blue Herons (3), Killdeer, Barred Owl (hooted several times), Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker (nice fly-by), Eastern Bluebirds (pair, visiting Seth's newly installed box), Pine Warbler (f.o.s., Sol Satin), Palm Warblers (10, f.o.s.), Brown-headed Cowbird (f.o.s.; alas).

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) Bob Stevens and I took a stroll to the Ibis Pool and observed a female Kestrel on the wire. Also a few Savannah Sparrows along with the regulars - Great Blue Heron, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, etc. Also saw Possum, Bobcat and Turkey tracks in the mud. On East Hadley Road in Hadley there was a pair of Kestrels.

HADLEY (from Harvey Allen) In the Honeypot - 23 Pipits (one very bright), 2 Kestrels, Chipping Sparrow, Bluebirds. At the Horse Farm 2 Killdeer, 1 imm. Coopers. No shorebirds Aqua Vitae Road.

CONWAY STATE FOREST (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) A report from Jennifer Strules of Charlemont: In Conway SF, wow! YBSapsucker everywhere (at least 5 or 6)! And 4 Winter Wren singing, 1 BCreeper singing. Heard a NFlicker too. There was a flock of AMRobin (maybe 25-30) foraging madly through the leaf litter along the warm, snow-free ridge top there. 3-4 Evening Grosbeak were about, too

April 8 - Friday - Sunny and Warm

SHUTESBURY+ (from Chris Gentes) Checked the bluebird boxes today with Kev, Cyn, George, and Heather. Same as last week - 2 built nests in Box-1 and Box-6. A pair on Box-2 and a single on Box-8. Also saw a Turkey Vulture, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 2 Palm Warblers. In EASTHAMPTON in the flooded field near Danks Pond there were 7 Ring-necked Ducks.

HOLYOKE (from Kevin Weir) Two Common Loons on Ashley Pond - one was calling.

SOUTH AMHERST (from Harvey Allen) One Chipping Sparrow, 3 Palm Warblers, 6 Kestrels, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Also Tom Gagnon had a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Fish Crow in Florence

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Visitors: Deb Warwick and son Chris, of Ludlow. Good spotters both. Weather: Sun through diaphanous high clouds. Prevailing wind NE 5-12 mph, varying to N/NW. Temperature 54-58 F. No staff coverage in the morning. Observations: Very few migrants. One Goshawk that soared almost out of sight overhead. One solitary adult Broad-wing high overhead at 12:55 EDT (credit to Chris Warwick for spotting it). Non-migrants: numerous Turkey Vultures, two Bald Eagles (adult, immature), Cooper's Hawk, TWO Northern Goshawks flying low together (a Blueberry Hill first), two Red-shouldered Hawks. Barred Owl (hooting frequently), Common Ravens (12, apparently migrating), Field Sparrow.

WHATELY (from Dave Mako) At dusk, I was surprised to see an osprey circling around the pond at Tri Town Beach. Also seen, ~ 6 ring-necked ducks, 4 common mergansers and a couple mallards.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry THerrien) NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Morning trip to Danks Pond area and oxbow: Osprey (1) circling over the field across from Danks Pond, Pied Billed Grebe (1) in danks pond, Green Winged Teal (6), Ring Necked Duck (9), Wood Duck (15), Black Duck (5), Mallard (52), Canada Geese (25), Killdeer (1), Tree Swallow (1), mixed flock of Red Winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles (75+). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Field Sparrow (1), Turkey Vulture (3), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Northern Flicker (1), Cedar Waxwing (6), Northern Mockingbird (1). CUMMINGTON- Wilcutt Rd : American Kestrel (2) PLAINFIELD-Swamp near Plainfield Pond, along Rt 166: Hooded Merganser (4) right along roadside in the little open water available. Plainfield Pond still frozen solid.

April 9 - Saturday - Sunny and Warm

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) Louisiana Waterthrush singing at Puffers/Mill River.

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) In North Hadley near the river Heather and I saw Wood Duck-5, Ring-necked Duck-5, Flicker-2, Rusty Blackbird-9, White-throated Sparrow-2. At the Pond we saw DC Cormorant-1, Phoebe-2, Rough-winged Swallow-1. We looked for pipits in the honeypot and Aqua Vitae Road but didn't find any. Aqua Vitae Road had a Kestrel, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Green-winged Teal, 4 Common Mergansers (put up by kayaker. Next we went to Ashley Pond where we observed 1 Common Loon, 1 DC Cormorant, 1 Osprey, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Brown Creeper, 5 Pine Warblers. Other observations - Beaver, Musk Turtle, Painted Turtles, Pike, Catfish, Pickeral, Sunfish, Crayfish, Spring Azure, Eastern Comma, Caddisflies, Flat-headed Mayflies, Damselfly & Dragonfly nymphs, Hellgrammite. Later in Amherst we saw 4 Great Blue Herons, an American Bittern, 2 Kestrels, and a Swamp Sparrow.

CLARKSBURG (from Larry Therrien) Out of the area a bit, but worth noting a Purple Finch (1), Chipping Sparrow (1) and Northern Flicker (3) coming to feeders at my parents house.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Visitors: Farmer Ted Sussmann and fellow pyromaniacs returned to burn down the rest of the hilltop (for blueberry cultivation). The outhouse was still standing when I left. Weather: Sunny but unclear: a blue haze that repeatedly swallowed up hawks. The wind, NE at 5-10 (15-20) mph, was surprisingly chill. Temp 46-58 F. Observations: Migrants sparse and seemingly reluctant. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagle (1st/2nd year), Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, Red-shouldered (4 at once, kettling but not moving through), 2-3 Red-tails. Barred Owl (hooting frequently in broad daylight), Tree Swallows (3), Common Ravens (2), pair of Eastern Bluebirds (they still can't decide which box to use), Palm Warblers (2), Field Sparrow.

LONGMEADOW - A male Blue-winged Teal by Colette Potter and 2 DC Cormorants by Janet Orcutt

WEST SPRINGFIELD - 4 Rough-winged Swallows seen by Janice Zepko

NEW SALEM (posted to Massbiurd by Bill Lafley) Some highlights of birding around town this morning: Branch Bridge Rd/Lake Rohunta Ring-necked Duck 50 C. Merganser 4 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Bufflehead 2 Sw. Sparrow 1 (1st of season) Spectacle Ponds Osprey 1 Gr. Winged Teal 1 Gate 33/Bassett Pond/Quabbin Pied-billed Grebe 1 C. Merganser 12 Ring-necked Duck 2 Bald Eagle 1 Pine Warbler 5 Moose 2 - While walking down the gate 33 road I startled a cow and a yearling. The yearling went slowly into the brush to feed but the cow did not yield. She stayed in front of me for 10 or 15 minutes and browsed. I tried moving a bit closer expecting her to head into the woods but she walked towards me and continued to browse. Eventually I went back to my car and went to the above mentioned places and came back a while later and walked to the reservoir. For the herp folks there were spermataphores, salamander eggs and wood frog eggs in a pool near where I encountered the moose. I spent some time checking them out waiting for the moose to get off the road.

April 10 - Sunday - Sunny and Warm

LONGMEADOW (from Katherine Perkins) I had a few interesting sightings along Pondside Road in Longmeadow. Rusty Blackbirds - pair (1 singing) - In the swamp across the R.R. tracks on the path opposite the Pondside Road entrance to the Bates Trail) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - (heard) Bald Eagle (1 imm. being chased by a Red-tailed Hawk) Ring-necked Ducks (6-7).

HADLEY (from Sue Emerson) About six thirty this am I saw about 8-10 snipe in the East Hadley road "muck area" --dairy farm.

QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) On a Mass Audubon class trip to South Quabbin (Quabbin Park) we had the following highlights: Common Loon (3) Turkey Vulture (12) Canada Goose (20) Mallard (10) Ring-necked Duck (11) Bufflehead (1) Hooded Merganser (7) Common Merganser (4) Osprey (1) Bald Eagle (3ad+1imm) Sharp-shinned Hawk (2) Broad-winged Hawk (2) Red-tailed Hawk (3) Wild Turkey (1) Killdeer (4: 3 at fish hatchery) Bonaparte's Gull (1adS + 2 1stS) Belted Kingfisher (1) N Flicker (16) Pileated Woodpecker (1) E Phoebe (16) Tree Swallow (23) Common Raven (pair w/nest: 2 notes about the ravens. (1) the nest this year appears very different. Most of the raven's nests I have seen have been mostly comprised of large sticks, with some other plant material. This nest has a large area in the front of made of some kind of fluffy white material. We studied it for awhile and some thought it was a mass of feathers, some thought a huge pile of plant down, I suggested a light fur, like from a deer carcass. We could never figure it out. The nest looks like some enormous version of a much smaller songbird's messy nest. (2) While hiking across the dike, we had spectacular views of a raven being mobbed by a crow as it flew down the dike right in front of us. Several times, and rather effortlessly it seemed, the raven, in mid flight mind you, just flipped right over and back again, in an effort to try to ditch the crow. It looked amazing. Eastern Bluebird (pair at box) Pine Warbler (17) Field Sparrow (1) Chipping Sparrow (18)

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Male and female bluebird adding nesting material to box #1. Male using perch next to box. Bluebird sitting on box #10 challenged by male tree swallow. Swallow eventually gained access to box. No nesting material in #10. Two male tree swallows landing and challenging each other on box #4. No nest material in #4. No sign of waterthrush yet. Sharp shinned in bluebird field.

HADLEY+ (from Larry Therrien) HADLEY- Aqua Vitae Rd in the AM: Ring Necked Duck (10+)...tough to see with the sun glare, Wood Duck (17), Mallard (7), Canada Geese (18), Red Winged Blackbird (50+), Northern Flicker (2)...flicker numbers have increased quite a bit over the last few days for me. No shorebirds seen today. EASTHAMPTON- Danks Pond area in the AM: Wood Duck (12), Ring Necked Duck (4), Common Merganser (1), Black Duck (4), Mallard (45+), Canada Geese (12), Killdeer (5), Kingfisher (1), Ring Billed Gull (52), Northern Flicker (2), Tree Swallow (10), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Bluebird (1). NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Arcadia trails near visitors center afternoon: Palm Warbler (2), Pine Warbler (3), Broad Winged Hawk (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Eastern Phoebe (4), Tree Swallow (13), Turkey Vulture (8) seen near Mt Tom, Great Blue Heron (3) flybys, Northern Flicker (1), Wood Duck (4), Golden Crowned Kinglet (3), Red tailed Hawk (3), Cedar Waxwing (5), and other usuals. NORTHAMPTON- State hopital trails: Field Sparrow (2), Eastern Phoebe (1). FLORENCE- Fish Crow (6)..maybe more, flying past downtown Florence.

LUDLOW (from Chris Gentes) Heather, Harvey and I slowly walked around Springfield Reservoir today and saw the following: Canada Goose-10, Wood Duck-2, Mallard-8, Ring-necked Duck-2, Bufflehead-4f, , Common Merganser-1, Common Loon-1, DC Cormorant-2, Great Blue Heron-1, Turkey Vulture-5, Osprey-1, Cooper's Hawk-pair courting, Broad-winegd Hawk-1, Red-tailed hawk-1, Great Black-back Gull-2, Herring Gull-1, Ring-billed Gull-3, Mourning Dove-1, Pileated Woodpecker-2, Flicker-1, Downy Woodpcker-1, Phoebe-4, Chickadee-14, Titmouse-9, Brown Creeper-2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet-3, White-breasted Nuthatch-2, Raven-2, Crow-1, Blue Jay-5, Robin-5, Palm Warbler-1, Pine Warbler-7, Cowbird-4, Red-winged Blackbird-1, Song Sparrow-6, Goldfinch-5. Also nice looks at a RED-BACKED VOLE.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Allen Bird Club, Andrew Magee, Chris Chinni, John Weeks Weather: Sunny with high, thin clouds. Wind WNW/NW 5-10 (15) mph. Temperature 53-70 F. Observations: Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, immature Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, 3 Red-shoulders, Red-tail. Pine Warbler (very bright, on ground near lookout).

HOLYOKE + (from Seth Kellogg) The Allen Club had an impromptu trip today with the following highlights. Ashley Ponds Common Loon, 15 Ringnecks, 2 Pine Warbler, 3 Rubycrowns, 2 Goldencrowns. LONGMEADOW - Pondside 2 Gadwall, 1 Piedbilled Grebe, 20 Ringnecks, WEST ROAD - 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER,, 5 Gw Teal, 2 Fish Crow.

ORANGE (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Dave Caldwell called to tell me he had a pair of Indigo Buntings off of Chestnut Hill Rd. in Orange Sunday (4/10). These birds nest here regularly but must have been pushed up early this year. Quite early but not unprecedented according to Veit and Petersen's "Birds of Massachusetts and cross referenced with the "Bird Finding Guide of Western Massachusetts" bar charts. The early arrival of the Summer Tanager is a case in point.

April 11 - Monday - Sunny and Cool, Breezy - Freeze overnight.

AMHERST+ (from Larry Therrien) Spent the morning over in Amherst, along the rail trail and then to the Hitchcock Center. Rail Trail: Eastern Towhee (1), Palm Warbler (14), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (6), Eastern Phoebe (3), Swamp Sparrow (1), Field Sparrow (3), Chipping Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (20+), Tree Swallow (27), Kingfisher (1), Turkey Vulture (8), Coopers Hawk (1), Northern Flicker (3), plus the other usuals including a Hairy Woodpecker excavating a nest hole, a Blue Jay doing a great imitation of a red tailed hawk and a couple of male cardinals that almost hit me as they chased each other around. HITCHCOCK CENTER: Palm Warbler (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (17), Song Sparrow (7), Tree Swallow (2), Northern Flicker (1)

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, 2 Winter Wrens, La Waterthrush, and the last day for the Clay-colored Sparrow.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday April 11

In Longmeadow on Pondside Road and West Road, there were 2 GADWALLS, 5 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, and 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

Seen in Hadley were 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 13 WILSON’S SNIPE, 23 AMERICAN PIPITS, a ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and 9 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

Single SANDHILL CRANES were seen over the hawk watch on two separate days in Barre Falls, 6 PALM WARBLERS and 4 PINE WARBLERS were in Brimfield, a COMMON LOON, 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and 2 PINE WARBLERS in Holyoke, 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES and 2 BUFFLEHEAD in New Salem, 2 BUFFLEHEAD and an EVENING GROSBEAK in Petersham, and 2 ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS in West Springfield.

In Amherst there was an AMERICAN BITTERN, 6 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 14 PALM WARBLERS, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.

Noted in Hatfield were 3 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 2 PALM WARBLERS, and a VESPER SPARROW.

The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at a feeder in Tyringham on Jerusalem Road, a GREAT EGRET was seen in Great Barrington, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO in Wiliamstown, 11 BLACK VULTURES in Sheffield, an AMERICAN BITTERN and 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS in Windsor and 15 WILSON’S SNIPE in Lee. In Pittsfield there were 4 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 2 BLACK VULTURES, 4 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 3 WINTER WRENS, 10 PALM WARBLERS, 3 FOX SPARROWS, 4 SWAMP SPARROWS, and 6 PURPLE FINCH.

A WINTER WREN and EVENING GROSBEAK were in Conway, a HERMIT THRUSH and 12 PINE WARBLERS in Montague, and 3 COMMON LOONS, a BUFFLEHEAD, and 3 BONAPARTE’S GULLS at South Quabbin.

Observed in Southwick were 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, a HERMIT THRUSH, 4 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and 10 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

Hawks have been migrating through as well. This week Barre Falls recorded 55 OSPREYS, 3 BALD EAGLES, 12 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 81 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 7 COOPER’S HAWKS, 15 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 30 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 49 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 39 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 2 MERLINS and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS. At Blueberry Hill in Granville there were 21 OSPREYS, 11 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 103 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 10 COOPER’S HAWKS, 2 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 24 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 47 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and a MERLIN.

April 12 - Tuesday - Sunny and Cool, Breezy

NORTH HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) An Osprey was hunting over the pond.

GILL+ (from Larry Therrien) GILL-Bartons Cove: Double Crested Cormorant (4), Tree Swallow (300+)...may have been many more..had a count of over 250 on wires and lots more over the cove, Bald eagle (2) on nest, Canada Geese (5), Mallard (2). TURNERS FALLS- Power canal: Barn Swallow (1), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (2), Tree Swallow (275+), Pine Warbler (2), Common Goldeneye (8) with the two males displaying quite a bit, Ring Necked Duck (1), Common Merganser (1), Mallard (5), Canada Geese (8) and Song Sparrow (3)...only a handful of gulls...about 10 Herring and a Ring billed.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, John Wojtanowski, Pam Witaszek Weather: March-like weather (calling for balaclava and Goretex). Sunny yet surprisingly hazy; winds northerly 10-15 mph (gusting to 20-25 mph in the afternoon). Temperature 40-50 F. Observations: Few migrants. Non-migrants: 3+ Turkey Vultures, 3 Bald Eagles (adult, 2 immature), Cooper's Hawk, adult Nothern Goshawk, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, half a dozen Red-tails.

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) Saw-whet calling. Latest in 19 years, but it is out calling in the yard now. (10pm)

April 13 - Wednesday - Sunny and Mild, Breezy

NORTHAMPTON + (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) Birding the fields around East Meadows this morning (and a bit of West Meadows), we had: Double-crested Cormorant (26) Great Blue Heron (1) Canada Goose (only 1 !) Wood Duck (8) Mallard (28) A Black Duck (2) Blue-winged Teal (3) Hooded Merganser (1f) N Harrier (1m+1f) Red-tailed Hawk (6) A Kestrel (1f) Killdeer (3) UPLAND SANDPIPER (1) LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1adS: a beautiful bird, watched closely for 20 minutes as it fed in a pool in a grassy field with hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls) N Flicker (11) Tree Swallow ( only 3) Horned Lark (7) Fish Crow (1) Savannah Sparrow (11) Red-winged Blackbird (180+) Across the river in HADLEYin just a very few stops: Canada Goose (14) Turkey Vulture (6) Osprey (1) Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) A Kestrel (1m) Wild Turkey (16) Killdeer (2) Wilson's Snipe (7) BARTON'S COVE, GILL had few birds: Double-crested Comorant (6) Canada Goose (8) Mallard (2) Ring-necked Duck (1m) BALD EAGLE (1 ad sitting tight on the nest) Belted Kingfisher (2) Tree Swallow (15) FARLEY (town of Erving). We checked to see if the Peregrines were nesting this year in the cliffs. They haven't been here for 2 years now and were not here this year. We did have: Turkey Vulture (6) Osprey (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1)

April 14 - Thursday - Sunny and Mild, Breezy

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON- Arcadia meadows and oxbow: Osprey (1) eating a fish at the oxbow, Great Blue Heron (8) with 6 on nests, Double Crested Cormorant (2), Ring Necked Duck (14), Wood Duck (6), Black Duck (6), Mallard (50+), Canada Geese (17), Tree Swallow (35+), Savannah Sparrow (8), Song Sparrow (25+), Northern Flicker (5), Turkey Vulture (2) and Red Tailed Hawk (3) with one perched nicely on a bluebird box. Also a mixed blackbird and grackle flock of 125+. EAST MEADOWS: Lesser Black Backed Gull (1) continues in among a group of over 325+ gulls...no other unusual gulls seen while I was there...but some neat behavior as the gulls plunged into a flooded section of field and kept coming up with worms, Eastern Meadowlark (1) singing, Double Crested Cormorant (7) flyby, Common Merganser (1), Northern Flicker (2), Tree Swallow (5), Northern Mockingbird (1), and Song Sparrow (12). STATE HOSPITAL trails: Field Sparrow, Ruby Crowned Kinglet (6), Tree Swallow (2) and a Red Tailed Hawk (1). FITZGERALD LAKE: Walked to the blind and to the lake, most birds around the blind and along the dam at the lake- Palm Warbler (6), Pine Warbler (2), Osprey (2) pair together hunting the lake, Swamp Sparrow (1), Great Blue Heron (2), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (5), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (9), Kingfisher (1) and Golden Crowned Kinglet (2).

HOLYOKE (from Kevin Weir) From a stroll around the small section of Ashley Pond: pine warblers, palm warblers, kingfishers, red tail, goldfinch, titmouse, chickadees, flickers, robins, cowbirds, cormorants.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Sol Satin Weather: Shifting from sunny to mostly cloudy, with haze. Prevailing wind NE (short for NEMESIS) 5-15 mph, gusting to 20 mph. Temperature 50s - 63 F. Actual start time: 10:20 EDT. Observations: Another dribble of migrants. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawk, two Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tail.

LONGMEADOW+ (from Seth Kellogg) Al and Lois Richardson had 5 Shovelers in Longmeadow Thursday, but not Friday. I had 5 Vesper Sparrows, 12+ Field Sparrows and a Fox Sparrow in SOUTHWICK.

April 15 - Friday - Sunny and Mild, Breezy

LONGMEADOW (from Seth Kellogg) Today I had 20 Gw Teal, Piedbill there.

COLRAIN (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We spend this morning birding in Colrain (on the Vermont border) and bits of adjacent Shelburne: two of the most scenic towns in the state. In Colrain, we concentrated some of our efforts on the State Forest in the NW corner that runs into Heath. In these parts, dirt roads still had substantial patches of icy snow on them and banks of snow were in shady areas in the forest. Birds seen included: Mallard (1) Common Merganser (2) Turkey Vulture (9) N. Goshawk (2ad) Red-shouldered Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) A Kestrel (3m+1f) Ruffed Grouse (1) Wild Turkey (11) Barred Owl (2: one bird was seen flying up from the ground along side a vernal pool and perched in front of us and went to sleep) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4m) Pileated Woodpecker (1) Eastern Phoebe (20) Tree Swallow (18) Winter Wren (14 singing birds) Common Raven (1) Black-capped Chickadee (141) Red-breasted Nuthatch (17) White-breasted Nuthatch (4) Brown Creeper (15) Golden-crowned Kinglet (27) E Bluebird (2) Louisiana Waterthrush (2) Song Sparrow (32) White-throated Sparrow (4) Dark-eyed Junco (37) Purple Finch (4) Evening Grosbeak (21: some singing) PLUS: Coltsfoot in bloom along certain roads and nice areas of Horsetails along the Green River.

AMHERST (from Chris Gentes) There was an Osprey perched on a snag near the beaver dam on the Bike Path.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Cloudless but hazy sky. Steady NE wind 10-20, with sustained gusts of 25, mph. Temperature 43-54 F. Observations: Another feeble flight, another day to tax one's patience. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, immature Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, two Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tail. Common Ravens (2).

April 16 - Saturday - Sunny and Warm

AMHERST (from Chris Gentes) A pre-dawn bike ride included a Bittern, 2 Kestrels, 2 Meadowlarks, Swamp Sparrow, as well as most of the now present breeders like Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, etc.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia: Palm Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (1), Eastern Phoebe (4) one with nest material, Eastern Bluebird (4), Great Blue Heron (4), Double Crested Cormorant (1), Black Duck (2), Mallard (7), Tree Swallow (30+), Savannah Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (38), White Throated Sparrow (6), Northern Flicker (2), Turkey Vulture (3) and Red Tailed Hawk (2).

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Before the club walk Heather and I saw a Greater Yellowlegs in a flooded grassy field near the Airport.

NORTHAMPTON (club walk) Total Species - 29

This walk started out near Olive Street where we searched the flooded woods for birds. We observed hundreds of Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds, Mallards, a half-dozen Wood Ducks and a female Hooded Merganser. Also seen were Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Robin, Cowbird, Song Sparrow , Mourning Dove and Goldfinch. Out on the Oxbow there were DC Cormorants and Great Black-backd Gulls. Near the Ibis pool there were a few more mallards and some Tree Swallows. We then observed the Great Blue Heron rookery for some time in the light of the setting sun. Also seen in this area was a flyby Killdeer, Kingfisher and Osprey. Other birds observed included Canada Geese, Black Ducks, Flickers, Bluebird, Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, and Robins. As it became darker we watched a long line of a thousand plus blackbirds stream by. A mole ran along the path. A Peregrine Falcon appeared, chased after a bat, and then perched in a nearby tree for a few minutes. Eventually Woodcocks started peenting. In all we likely heard about 2-4 birds. A beaver slapped its tail from Ned's Ditch. Also heard were Pickeral Frogs and Spring Peepers.

Participants included Janice Jorgensen, John van de Graaff, Marylee Bomboy, George White, Karen Stevens, Bob & Andrea Stevens, Mark Fardal, Larry Therrien, Heather McQueen and Chris Gentes

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg Weather: Hazy blue sky. Wind E/NE 5-10 mph, gusting to 15 mph. Temperature 50-63 F. Observations: A slight improvement over the past few days. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, two Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tail.

WARE (posted to Massbiurd by David Norton) The Ware marsh today had two pairs of common mergansers, one pair exhibiting some courtship behavior, which was interesting. The pair of hooded mergansers continues, and there were a couple pairs of mallards. I have not seen any woodducks there so far this spring. There are many tree swallows, as there have been all week. We had a huge Tom turkey in our backyard here in Amherst this morning.

April 17 - Sunday - Sunny and Very Warm

DEERFIELD (posted to Massbird by Rob Ranney-Blake) In Deerfield, we have our first Brown Thrasher in the yard Sunday morning. White-throated Sparrows arrived Saturday. Juncos have finally moved out. Titmice are collecting offerings of cat hair from the suet cage. Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and House Sparrows are still arguing over the two nest boxes.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Fitzgerald Lake boardwalk this morning: Swamp Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (5), Tree Swallow (3), Wood Duck (2), Mallard (3), Canada Geese (4), Northern Flicker (2), Red Winged Blackbird (20+), unknown species of buteo (1) distant, plus the other usuals. STATE HOSPITAL TRIALS: Field Sparrow (2), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Fish Crow (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1). HOLYOKE: Mount Tom near Bray Lake. Area was mobbed with people, and some very annoying dirt bikes racing back and forth and riding on hiking trails...wonder where the state park staff was? I did manage to find some birds: Pine Warbler (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Brown Creeper (1) and Turkey Vulture (4). Also had some Trout Lilly's in bloom and had my first snake of the year.

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Highlights from North Hadley include 6 Wood Ducks, 4 Common Mergansers, 3 Flickers, 4 Hermit Thrushes, 5 Field Sparrows, and a Winter Wren. Not much on the Bike Path as we got there in the afternoon, but at the Harvey Allen Blind there were a pair of Phoebes, a Swamp Sparrow and a Junco. In SHUTESBURY we checked the Bluebird boxes and were happy to see that Box-1 has 3 eggs! Kevin said there are a few Palm Warblers about still and a Sharp-shinned Hawk has been regular - hunting Mourning Doves (if not more).

QUABBIN PARK: (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) (partial list) COMMON LOON (6: we watched a pair doing some mutual bill dipping) Turkey Vulture (16: a pair was doing an aerial display likely indicative of nesting, over Ram) Canada Goose (2) Wood Duck (2) Mallard (2) Common Merganser (4) Osprey (1 migrant) Bald Eagle (2imm) Broad-winged Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (2) A Kestrel (1f) Bonaparte's Gull (1 1stS) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4) Pileated Woodpecker (1) Eastern Phoebe (9: we watched one bird attempt to attract another by flutter-flying around it, twittering all the while and then sitting for a long while in a spot which looked like a potential nest spot on a rocky face, again chirping and twittering. No nest had been built yet, it was a "potential" nest spot. All the while the other bird perched nearby watching. Eventually, the "watching" bird decided to move on at which point it was chased by the "displaying bird" with much calling. They even fought a bit, but eventually the second bird flew on. Pine Warbler (13) Field Sparrow (1)

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Andrew Magee, Herman D'Entremont, John Weeks, Oakes Spaulding, Pam Witaszek, Sol Satin Weather: Warm, hazy, cloudless. Wind NW/N at first, then variable, and light, 0-5(10) mph. Temperature 58 to (estimated) 70 F. Observations: With no break in this monotonous weather pattern, migrant numbers continued low. Pam spotted our first Broad-wing kettle (5 birds) of the season. Non-migrants: the usual suspects (TV, CH, NG, RS, RT). RAPTOR OF THE DAY: A stunningly beautiful SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, hawking insects with incredible grace not one hundred feet above our heads. But read on, gentle reader, and allay your consternation. We (Andrew, Sol and I) saw it not at Blueberry Hill, but hard by Exit 3 off Route 9 in Essex, Connecticut, whither it had flown from its recent haunts in Deep River. Pam nobly held the fort in our absence. Great Blue Herons (2), Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler.

April 18 - Monday - Sunny and 70s

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia meadows this morning: Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Tree Swallow (13), Wood Duck (15), Mallard (11), Canada Geese (5), very large mixed flock of Red Winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Cowbirds...at least 6000..probably much more...truly impresive..the big flocks are a bit behind of when they appeared last year, Double Crested Cormorant (2), Killdeer (3), Northern Flicker (3), Red Tailed Hawk (1) sitting in tree, buzzed by a Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), Great Blue Heron (8). DEERFIELD: Mt Sugarloaf: Walked up around mid morning and stayed for an hour or so Following seen: Broad Winged Hawk (10) with one kettle of six birds, Osprey (1), Peregrine Falcon (1), Bald Eagle (1) adult being harassed by the peregrine, American Kestrel (2), Red Tailed Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (1) and a distant accipiter. Most of above birds were quite low over the summit. Also seen were Common Raven (2), Pine Warbler (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), and Chipping Sparrow (2).

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Sun and haze, with a few cirrus clouds. Wind varied almost constantly, NE/N/NW/WNW/W. (For one tantalizing minute it was even SW.) Temperature 67-73 F. Observations: Migrants and non-migrants were tied at 5 until the eighth inning, when migrants got one run; they went on to score three more in the ninth. However, non-migrants came back in the bottom half of the stanza, winning 10-9. Non-migrants: 4 Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, 3 Red-tails. Two Field Sparrows counter-singing -- lovely to hear.

AMHERST - Harvey Allen observed a Virginia Rail ON Station Road.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, April 18

Seen on a walk in Blunt Park in Springfield were 2 HERMIT THRUSH, a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, a PALM WARBLER and 2 PINE WARBLERS.

Five NORTHERN SHOVELERS were present one day on Pondside Road in Longmeadow, and 20 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were still in the West Road pool.

Noted in Northampton were 26 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, an UPLAND SANDPIPER, a LESSER-BLACK-BACKED GULL, 2 FISH CROWS, 7 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and 11 SAVANNAH SPARROWS.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in Amherst, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Holyoke, 7 WILSON’S SNIPE and 4 HERMIT THRUSH in Hadley, and reported at south Quabbin were 6 COMMON LOONS, a BONAPARTE’S GULL, and 13 PINE WARBLERS.

An early morning walk in the towns of Barre and New Braintree produced 3 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 2 WINTER WRENS, 7 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 7 HERMIT THRUSH, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 8 PINE and 5 PALM WARBLERS, 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS, 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 BUFFLEHEAD, 5 WILSON’S SNIPE, and 13 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

In Colrain State Forest on the Vermont line there were 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 2 BARRED OWLS, 14 WINTER WRENS, 17 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 15 BROWN CREEPERS, 27 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, AND 21 EVENING GROSBEAKS.

Two INDIGO BUNTINGS were reported in the town of Orange, a BROWN THRASHER in Deerfield, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and 2 PINE SISKINS in Hinsdale.

BARN SWALLOWS were reported in the towns of Alford and Lenox. Found in Pittsfield were 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, an AMERICAN BITTERN, 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, a PALM WARBLER, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

Seen in Southwick were a PIED-BILLED GREBE, WINTER WREN, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, FOX SPARROW, 5 VESPER SPARROWS, and 12 FIELD SPARROWS.

Hawk totals were slim. For the week at Barre Falls there were 19 OSPREYS, 4 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 32 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 22 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 15 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 2 MERLINS. In Granville there were 34 OSPREYS, 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 33 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 20 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 7 RED-TAILED HAWKS, and 18 AMERICAN KESTRELS, as well as 2 local NORTHERN GOSHAWKS.

April 19 - Tuesday - Sunny and 80s!!

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) This morning bike riding to work some highlights were: DC Cormorant-1, Phoebe-3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet-1, SongSparrow-20, Savannah Sparrow-2, Vesper Sparrow-1 (Honeypot on a wire where road turns to dirt).

WILLIAMSBURG+ (from Larry Therrien) - Graves Farm: Cliff Swallow (4), Barn Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (22), Pine Warbler (1), Eastern Bluebird (2), Wood Duck (2), Turkey Vulture (2). NORTHAMPTON- Arcadia: Took a trip through the meadows this morning to see if anything new came in overnight...an increase in Blue Jays and Song Sparrows and my first Blue Gray Gnatcatcher down there this spring. Totals seen down there this morning American Turkey (3), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Hooded Merganser (1), Wood Duck (4), Mallard (17), Canada Geese (3), Double Crsted Cormorant (4), Savannah Sparrow (10+), Song Sparrow (45+), White Throated Sparrow (2), Great Blue Heron (9), Tree Swallow (17). NORTHAMPTON-State Hospital trails: Field Sparrow (2), Killdeer (3), Northern Flicker (1), White Throated Sparrow (4), Song Sparrow (5). DEERFIELD- Mount Sugarloaf: On summit for just under 2.5 hours and had the following: Broad Winged Hawk (148)..a few good size kettles of 25, 18 and 15...many were in groups of 3-9...some very close views. Peregrine Falcon (2) watched the male return with a kill and pass it off in mid air to the female, Osprey (5), Northern Harrier (1), Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), unknow accipiter (1), American Kestel (1), Red Tailed Hawk (3), Turkey Vulture (8). The migrant raptors came by throughtout my time there, but really were concentrated in a 45 minute period late morning when the wind shifted a bit and picked up in speed just slightly. Also seen were an large number of Double Crested Cormorant (113) migrating...including two large groups of 52 and 39...really neat to see. In addition I had Pine Warbler (2), Palm Warbler (1), Yellow bellied Sapsucker (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), and Chippng Sparrow (1).

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Andrew Magee, John Weeks, Seth Kellogg Weather: Sunny and extremely hazy. Wind light and variable before noon; wind shifted to W in the afternoon and strengthened to 10-15 mph (gusting to 20-25 mph). Observations: Birds moved for a while, especially between 11:00 and 1:00 EDT. Some went high -- painfully high to observe through the haze. The flight stopped dead when the wind shifted west. Non-migrants: TV, NG, RS(2), RT. Great Blue Heron, Wild Turkey (solitary hen on North Lane), Killdeer, Barred Owl (hooting), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (tapping & whining), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush (serenaded us from just down the slope), Yellow-rumped Warbler (f.o.s.), Palm Warbler. Predictions: Tomorrow may be the day, unless the predicted SW winds are too strong.

NORTHAMPTON (from Steve Siluzio) Lots of Screech owls along the Mill River tonight. Most were located to the left and right of the wide dirt path that leads up to Washington St. They're curious and allow you to get very close. Almost arms reach, with my dog.

April 20 - Wednesday - Mostly Cloudy and upper 80s!!

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Near Paradise Pond there were 2 Killdeer, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler and 2 Pine Warblers.

AMHERST+ (from Larry Therrien) AMHERST- Rail Trail: Black and White Warbler (3), Yellow Rumped Warbler (15+), Palm Warbler (10), Eastern Meadowlark (2), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (9), Swamp Sparrow (3), Fox Sparrow (2), Field Sparrow (2), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (20+), Song Sparrow (19), Northern Flicker (9), Tree Swallow (25+), Killdeer (2), Green Winged Teal (3), Wood Duck (3) including a male perched in a tree just off the trail, Mallard (8), Canada Geese (6), Kingfisher (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), Northern Mockingbird (2), Red Winged Blackbird (45+), Common Grackle (35+), Red Tailed Hak (2), Junco (1), Downy Woodpecker (9) with a couple of males chasing each other around alot, plus other usuals around. AMHERST- Plum Springs: Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), Chipping Sparrow (4), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Tree Swallow (6), White Throated Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (3), Turkey Vulture (1). Also numerous turtles hauled up on logs in the swamp (30+). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Hermit Thrush (1), Field Sparrow (2), Chipping Sparrow (1), Northern Flicker (1), Red Tailed Hawk (1). NORTHAMPTON: Arcadia meadows: Eastern Towhee (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Osprey (2), Savannah Sparrow (11), White Throated Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (18), Eastern Bluebird (1), Double Crested Cormorant (2), Kingfisher (1), Great Blue Heron (5), Tree Swallow (18), Turkey Vulture (4), Red Tailed Hawk (2).

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Andrew Magee, John Weeks, John Wojtanowski, Seth Kellogg Weather: Sunny to start, with clouds building in the afternoon. Very hazy all day. Wind W (not SW as predicted) and varying in strength from 5 to almost 30 mph. Temperature unseasonably warm, 66-83 F. Observations: A modest flight early, then nothing, then only a trickle of birds. Largest kettle of Broad-wings had only six birds in it. Most flew moderately to very high. Non-migrants, BLACK VULTURE (f.o.s.), Turkey Vultures, Cooper's, Goshawk, Red-shouldered, two Broad-wings(!), Red-tail. Great Blue Herons (3), Canada Geese (23 migrants), Duck sp (BW Teal?), Killdeer (2), Common Raven, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Field Sparrows (3, counter-singing).

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Female sitting on eggs this pm. She left and I checked. We're up to 4 eggs. Male and female tree swallow on #2. Male tree swallow on #10. Female bluebird on #9. In addition, the white throat sparrow returned, lots of tree swallows sitting on our boxes in pairs. Two field sparrows, Chipping sparrows, cowbirds, chickadees, goldfinch, phoebes are abundant. One male and one female bluebird in field with box #1. I think they are the only bluebird pair. There was one female turkey walking around the house for a few days last week, and then two males were in full display across the street in the field. Now the female and one of the males run through the backyard and when spooked by the dogs fly up into the ravine trees. About 10pm Joe the boarder collie started to bark aggressively. I went outside to see what he was so upset about and all of a sudden the strangest growling and screaming occurred between at least two animals in the river area by the road. Joe became quiet when I came out and sat by him and we both listened to this amazing sound. Then, all of a sudden a dark brown shape (Fisher) came loping up the road growling and swiftly passed us by. Then all was quiet except four woodcocks peenting around the fields.

AGAWAM (from Seth Kellogg) Brown Thrasher.

April 21 - Thursday - Sunny, Cool and Windy.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) This morning in the East Meadows there were 5 Kestrels, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Horned Larks, and a Meadowlark. Later on in the West Meadows I observed 4 Palm Warblers, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, a male Harrier hunting in the meadows and a pair of chickadees excavating a nest. On Green Street a pair of Crows were busy building a nest opposite the chocolate shop.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Windy. Meadowlarks (2) singing near the Hop Brook bridge. Lawrence Swamp, from Station Road Black and White Warbler 2, Yellow Rumped Warbler 6, Palm Warbler 3, Swamp Sparrow 1. Plum Brook: Black and white warbler 1, Palm warbler 4, Swamp Sparrow 2, Sharpie 1. Potwine Lane, White Crowned Sparrow at a feeder.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observer: John Weeks Weather: Sunny all day, and (huzzah!) no haze in the morning. Wind NW 10-15 (20) mph. Temperature 47-55 F. Observations: Few migrants passed Blueberry Hill (perhaps the brisk NW wind blew them east of us). Those that did were hard to pick out in the blue (and in the afternoon haze). Some, however, flew amazingly low -- one Osprey passed less than 50 ft overhead. There were no Broad-wing kettles. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, 4 Bald Eagles (3 ad, 1 imm.), Cooper's, Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldered, 2-3 Red-tails. Barred Owl (hooting at 9:08 EDT), 2 Killdeer (chased by Cooper's Hawk), Common Raven, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

SOUTHWICK (posted to Massbird by Scott RIcker) Dear MassBirders There were two Rusty BBirds at the feeder on 4/21. Also..... BCChicadee-1 TTitmouse-3 Redbellied WP-1 Redwinged BB-15 CGrackle-23 BHCowbird-4 Whitethroated Sparrow-3 Chipping Sparrow-1(Adult) Lifer for Jeremy YSFlicker-2 (Calling next to swamp)

April 22 - Friday - Sunny, Cool and Windy - Front pushed through early evening.

AMHERST+ (from Heather McQueen) Two Brown Thrashers on the bikepath - 1 in Hadley and 1 in Amherst. Meadowlarks singing in all the usual spots - Mount Warner, the Horse Farm, Powerline Cut, Hop Brook Meadow. Pine Warblers all around. Also Bittern, Snipe, Woodcock, 1 Green-winged Teal near Hop Brook.

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Vesper Sparrow singing again in Honeypot. Also seen there 1 Kestrel, 4 Flickers, 2 Savannah Sparrows, 20 Song Sparrows. In Northampton Paradise Pond a few Common Mergansers, Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler (regular).

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON Arcadia-Short stop near the visitor center and near by trails: highlights of Palm Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (2), Pine Warbler (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (9), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Bluebird (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (6), Song Sparrow (8), Northern Flicker (3), Tree Swallow (26), Common Merganser (1), Red Tailed Hawk (2), Turkey Vulture (1). NORTHAMPTON-State Hospital trails: Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Fish Crow (4), Field Sparrow (3), White Throated Sparrow (12), Song Sparrow (7), Junco (1), Tree Swallow (2), Broad Winged Hawk (6)..all in one kettle, Turkey Vulture (1). DEERFIELD- Mt Sugarloaf- Spent about 45 minutes at summit from 12:45-1:30 with the following seen: Broad Winged Hawk (13)...birds were moving high and quick, most found by luck while scanning with bino's...certainly others went by undetected, Red Tailed Hawk (4), Turkey Vulture (6), Common Raven (1), Tree Swallow (1), Eastern Phoebe (1).

ORANGE (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) This morning around 8:30, Dave Caldwell and I spotted a Sandhill Crane at the far end of the cornfield off of Old South Rd. (Blackington Rd.) in Orange. We took primitive road in to the back of this field (not recommended) and got a closer look. We were very careful not to alarm the Crane but did notice that the bird was very wary and not spending much time feeding (many Coyotes in the area). We backed off and went back to the distant view of the town road. We made contact with Jeff Johnstone, who got to see the bird minutes before it flew off in the direction of Quabbin Reservoir. This bird is more than likely, the same individual that was seen a few weeks earlier in the same location and apparently seen nearby.

ORANGE (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We checked on the Sandhill Crane spotted near the Athol/New Salem line and did NOT find it at 5:30PM. We also checked other nearby fields and marshes with no luck. BTW: a crane appeared in this same field several years back. It's also worthy to note that we had a Sandhill put down in nearby Tom Swamp last spring. So, when in this area, keep your eyes and ears peeled.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg Weather: Cirrus clouds covered the sky all morning. By early afternoon, as the wind shifted from E gradually to SW, the character of the sky changed: cumulus clouds replaced the cirrus. The wind grew as it shifted, apparently dispersing the a.m. thermals. Temperature 45-61 F (felt colder). Observations: Around 70% of the flight occurred between 10 and 12 AM EDT. The two largest kettles contained, respectively, 24 and 23 Broad-wings. Non-migrants: 2 BLACK VULTURES, Turkey Vultures, 2-3 Bald Eagles, Cooper's, Red-shouldered, 2 Broad-wings, Red-tail. Common Loons (2), Double-crested Cormorants (39), Great Blue Heron, Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush.

LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by Janice LaPointe) An early Yellow Warbler was present (seen by Eileen Rutman and myself.).

April 23 - Saturday - Rainy and Cool

NEW SALEM+ (posted to Massbird by Dave Small) In addition to viewing the Sandhill Crane this morning [see report above for location], I was treated to the sound of dueling whip-poor-wills in the pre-dawn as the Quabbin opened for the boat fishing season today. The birds were behind the restrooms at Gate 31(fishing area 2).

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I drove around in the rain and saw the following: East Meadows there were 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 8 Wood Ducks, Mallards, a Horned Lark and 12 Savannah Sparrows. In the West Meadows we observed a Bald Eagle, a few Savannah Sparrows, and a Killdeer. In HATFIELD at Great Pond (the smaller isolated pond on the other side of the road from the main pond) we observed 3 Wood Ducks and a pair of Blue-winged Teal. In DEERFIELD at Stillwater Road there were 3 Wood Ducks and a few Barn Swallows. In SUNDERLAND there was a male Harrier and in HADLEY there was a singing Vesper Sparrow at the Honeypot.

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Virginia Rail, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow .

April 24 - Sunday - Rainy in morning - then partly cloudy and windy

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) First thing this morning I saw a Green Heron on the ground next to the North Hadley Pond. Also a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Chipping Sparrow and 4 Juncos. Heather and I headed up to TURNERS FALLS. At the airport we saw a Killdeer, a Turkey Vulture, a Savannah Sparrow and a Field Sparrow. At the Rod & Gun Club we observed 150+ Tree Swallows and 3 DC Cormorants. From the Barton Cove Nature Center we observed 3 Common Loons, 1 Horned Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 12 DC Cormorants, 4 Bufflehead, 2 Rough-winged Swallows and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers. We headed up to Northfield and saw 1 Common Merganser, 1 Phoebe, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 4 Killdeer. At Quabbin Park we observed 1 Common Loon, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a Field Sparrow. At Springfield Reservoir in LUDLOW we observed 6 DC Cormorants, a Common Goldeneye, 5 Common Mergansers, 2 Ravens, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and several Pine Warblers.

FLORENCE (from Larry Therrien) Had a House Wren calling near downtown Florence this morning.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) I've heard 4 woodcock each night around the three fields, 2 male field sparrows seen, turkeys, bluebird male sits by house on perch, sharpshinned and red tail in field today, towhee is back, chipping sparrows, phoebes, song sparrows, cowbirds, robins, tree swallows continue to sit on box #9, #10, #4 and #2.

LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by Janoice LaPointe) Highlight of short walk Sunday along the Withgott Meadow path at Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge, Longmeadow. Green heron, Palm warbler, Swamp sparrow. Savannah Sparrows appear to be considering the grassland for nesting. Also present 2 mockingbirds that may also be considering nesting here, not usually for this spot

QUABBIN (posetd to Massbird by John Hoye) South Quabbin was quiet but did mange to find 10 Chipping Sparrows at Windsor Memorial and 4 Bluebirds near the Tower.as well as 4 YellowRumps and 2 RubyCrowns. We then went to Gate 22 and by this time weather was much improved and we heard 6 Blue Headed Vireos, saw a Northern Waterthrush and a Yellow -bellied Sapsucker and singing Winter Wren and Red Shouldered Hawk. On the way across to 202 on Rte 9 we were lucky to find 2 BroadWinged hawks and a Kestrel and on 122 we saw 10 Turkey Vultures. At the famed cornstubble fields on Blackington we found a wide expanse of field but no Crane, Geese or Vultures.

April 25 - Monday - Mostly Cloudy - Windy and Cool

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) This morning there was a pair of Kestrels in the Honeypot. Later in the afternoon the pair was still there along with 2 males hunting over the transfer station. I noticed a Kestrel box on one of the trees - I'd never seen it before and wonder if the pair had found it. Also a female Harrier on the Hatfield side of the river. In Northampton's East Meadows plenty of nice shorebird puddles, but no shorebirds - yet. A Meadowlark was singing near the airport.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) State Hospital trail: Blue headed Vireo (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), and the other usuals.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) Green Heron on the bikepath.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Squally weather after a weekend of rain. Cloud cover varied from 50% to 98% during the watch. Wind SW-W 10-15 mph, gusting as high as 30 mph (my telescope blew over). There were sporadic sprinklings of snow. A bracing November day. Observations: Non-migrants: 7 Turkey Vultures, Goshawk. 2 Great Blue Herons, Killdeer, Common Raven harassed by 3 Crows. Three military-green helicopters passed in close formation over the site.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday April 25

Reported in many places and in an early peak of migration were BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and PALM WARBLERS.

A SANDHILL CRANE was found on Friday in the fields on Blackington Road in the town of New Salem. It was present Saturday morning but not seen since.

Stopping at Turners falls during the weekend rains were 3 COMMON LOONS, a RED-NECKED GREBE, a HORNED GREBE, and 4 BUFFLEHEAD.

Seen in Longmeadow were a GREEN HERON, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, and a YELLOW WARBLER.

In Southwick there were 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS, a BARN SWALLOW, 2 BANK SWALLOWS, 2 HERMIT THRUSH, a BROWN THRASHER, 2 VESPER SPARROWS, and 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

Noted in Brimfield were an AMERICAN BITTERN, 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, and 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

A COMMON LOON and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER were reported at the south area of the Quabbin Reservoir. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and WINTER WREN were at east Quabbin, 4 WHIP-POOR WILLS in New Salem, and a GREEN HERON, BROWN THRASHER and VESPER SPARROW in Hadley.

Seen in the Ware River watershed in the town of Barre, were 2 VIRGINIA RAILS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 4 BARN SWALLOWS, a WINTER WREN, a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and an EVENING GROSBEAK.

Six GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a HOUSE WREN were observed in Northampton, 4 Cliff Swallows.

Seen in Amherst were 3 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a WILSON’S SNIPE, 3 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERS, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

A GREEN HERON was reported in Egremont, a RED-NECKED GREBE on Pontoosuc Lake, and, elsewhere in Pittsfield, a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER.

Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were still present at the cliffs on Mt Sugarloaf. Also counted were 5 OSPREYS, and 148 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS. On Shatterack Mt in Russell there were 6 OSPREYS, 14 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 107 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, and a KESTREL. Hawkwatch totals in Granville for the past week were 12 OSPREYS, 2 BALD EAGLES, 10 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 235 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, and 8 KESTRELS. Counted migrating over Barre Falls were 14 OSPREYS, 2 BALD EAGLES, a NORTHERN HARRIER, 17 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 183 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, and 4 KESTRELS.

April 26 - Tuesday - Mostly Sunny - Breezy and Mild

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) This morning in the East Meadows there was a female Harrier and 3 Greater Yellowlegs. Mid-afternoon in the very flooded Ibis Pool (I had to get there by walking over Ned's Ditch on the trolley line as the other roads are flooded out) there were 11 Greater Yellowlegs. Also there are newly erected Bluebird Boxes in the fields and three Kestrels were perched on them. Also 23 Savannah Sparrows in one group near the hedge, a flock of 200 female Red-winged Blackbirds and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on the Bike Path.

AMHERST (from Heather MCQUeen) A Blue-headed Vireo on the Bike Path near the Golf Course.

AMHERST+ (from Larry Therrien) AMHERST- Rail trail from Mill Ln to Station Rd and back: Black and White Warbler (2), Palm Warbler (11), Yellow Rumped Warbler (29),,maybe more...they seemed to be all over the place, Pine Warbler (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (9), Brown Thrasher (1), Eastern Meadowlark (4), Eastern Phoebe (4), Carolina Wren (1), Swamp Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (12), Hooded Merganser (1), Green Winged Teal (2), Wood Duck (6), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (40+), Northern Flicker (4), Killdeer (1), Kingfisher (2), Turkey Vulture (13) all in one group...plus the other expected stuff. DEERFIELD- Mt Sugarloaf: At summit from 9:45-11, following seen: Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (4), Broad Winged Hawk (11)...most quite low, Coopers Hawk (1), Red tailed Hawk (2), Peregrine Falcon (1), Turkey Vulture (4), Double Crested Cormorant (39), groups of 29, 9 and 1, Tree Swallow (1), Carolina Wren (1), Eastern Phoebe (3) with pair nesting at summit. HATFIELD- Great Pond...very flooded, nothing out of the usual seen during short stop. NORTHAMPTON-State Hospital trails: Field Sparrow (2)...as always, Sharpshinned Hawk (1), White Throated Sparrow (6), Song Sparrow (5), Tree Swallow (2), Northern Flicker (1).

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) House Wren

April 27 - Wednesday - Rainy all day

April 28 - Thursday - Partly Cloudy, Breezy and Mild

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) Warbling Vireo singing on bikepath this morning.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) East St: Blue Headed Vireo 1 Myrtle-2 RC Kinglet
Spruce Road Tunnel: One singing Towhee
Snell St Bridge: Blue Headed Vireo 1 Black and white 1 Myrtle-5
Powerlines, Field Sparrow, Meadowlars, Tree Swallows
After Powerline cut: another Towhee
SE Street Bridge: Blue Headed Vireo 1 Black and white 1 Myrtle-3
Hop Brook Bridge, the usuals: Swamp Sparrows, Meadowlarks, RWBB Grackles
Near the pileated nest: Black and white 1 Myrtle-7 Gnatcatcher-1 One Chicadee, gather the fuzzy stuff off of some fiddleheads, presumably to line a nest with
Near station rd parking lot: Brown creeper, 1 singing
Heard as I passed the Caroline Arnold trail, Winter Wren 1
Lawrence Swamp Station Rd Black and white 1 Myrtle-8 Green Heron 1 Gnatcatcher pair
Potwine Lane Just before the Muddy Brook Eastern Kingbird-1

TURNERS FALLS+ (from Larry Therrien) GILL- Bartons Cove: Red Necked Grebe (1)...very nice in breeding plumage, Blue Headed Vireo (1), Pine Warbler (2)..two males chasing each other, Eastern Phoebe (1), Double Crested Cormorant (11), Bald Eagle (1) on nest, Chipping Sparrow (2), Tree Swallow (25+), Canada Geese (14), Mallard (2). TURNERS FALLS- Power Canal: Common Goldeneye (2) pair, Mallard (6), Canada Geese (3). GREENFIELD- Poets Seat Tower: Short stop had Pine Warbler (2) and Northern Flicker (1) as highlights. DEERFIELD- Stillwater Rd, in area that was good for shorebirds a few years ago: Solitary Sandpiper (1), Sharpshinned Hawk (1) scaring up some Red Winged Blackbirds, Mallard (5), Canada Geese (2). NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Arcadia: Green Winged Teal (19), Ring Necked Duck (1), Wood Duck (4), Mallard (27), Canada Geese (4), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Bluebird (1), Tree Swallow (10), Song Sparrow (2), Northern Flicker (1). NORTHAMPTON-State Hospital trails: Blue Headed Vireo (1), Eastern Towhee (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Field Sparrow (3)..all calling alot, Fish Crow (1), White Throated Sparrow (5), Song Sparrow (8), Tree Swallow (2), Northern Flicker (2).

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) In the very flooded Ibis Pool I observed 4 Lesser Yellowlegs and 15 Greater Yellowlegs. Nothing in the East Meadows - many pools, but no birds in them. 1 Harrier flew by. Nearby I heard a Turkey and saw 3 Kestrels. The only way today was over Ned's Ditch on the old trolley line. In Hadley there were 5 Kestrels on the wire fence near the transfer station and a Vesper Sparrow calling close to the river.

LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by Janis LaPointe) An excellent morning of birding at Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge, Longmeadow (with Eileen Rutman). Highlights New: Warbling Vireos have arrived, 2 Palm Warblers, 4 Swamp Sparrows, 10, 5 seen beautifully Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 Yellow- rumped Warbler (many) Yellow Warblers Black and White Warbler, 1 Female Hooded Merganser, pond at corner of Emerson road and Pondside Female Blue-winged Teal, pond near the Bates Trail

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) I just got in from a walk in which I saw 3 ruffed grouse and 2 evening grosbeaks. Lots of singing winter wrens and purple finches.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Sunny start, with clouds building in fast after 10:00 EDT. Wind NW shifting to W, 10-20 mph (gusting to 25-30 mph). Temperature 49-55 F. Exact start-time: 9:05 EDT. Observations: Couldn't tell whether this was a spring or a fall flight: three migrants went N, one went E, and three Ospreys went S. Other non-migrants: Turkey Vultures (2), Bald Eagles (2 adults), adult Goshawk (nice views), Red-shouldered (2), Broad-winged (3), Red-tail. Wild Turkey (hen), Gull species (3), Blue-headed Vireo, Raven, Palm Warbler, Eastern Towhee (male; first of season).

April 29 - Friday - Sunny, Windy and Cool

AMHEST (from Heather McQueen) House Wren singing in Hadley, from the bike path opposite the tree farm A total of 8 Male Black and White warblers singing in various places Hop Brook Bridge Vicinity, 3 Male Yellow Warblers all singing SE Street: A Mockingbird imitating peepers

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) I walked down to the Ibis Pool first thing this morning. Only 1 departing Greater Yellowlegs and a nearby Brown Thrasher. Later at Danks Pond I saw 13 Green-winged Teal. Later still in HADLEY on Aqua Vitae Road in a flooded area there were 10 Greater Yellowlegs and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs. Perhaps the same 'group' I saw yesterday in Northampton.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Mostly sunny. Cold west wind. Temperature 46-50 F. Exact start-time: 9:50 EDT. Observations: Where the hell are they? Migrating Goshawk was only raptor highlight. Non-migrants: 2 Turkey Vultures, 2 Red-shouldered (adult, 1st-year), Broad-wing. Small group of warblers: 4 Yellow-rumped, Pine Warbler, 2 Palm, Black-and-white (first of the year).

AMHERST (posted to Massbird by Henry Lappen) Walking East from Mill Lane on the bike path, we had a female Hooded Merganser this morning, swimming and calling in the pond on the left. Also a singing E. Meadowlark, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, two Brown Thrashers, and the usual suspects.

LONGMEADOW (from Seth Kellogg) Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper

April 30 - Saturday - Rainy and Cool

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellog) Nashville Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I checked out a few spots in the cold light rain. Aqua Vitae Road there were some puddles in the mud and we saw 4 Green-winged Teal, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Least Sandpipers, and a Killdeer. At Mitch's Way we saw a Kingfisher, a DC Cormorant, 4 Yellow Warblers, 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and 8 Rusty Blackbirds. On Mount Skinner there were 2 Juncos. Nearby there was a House Wren. In North Hadley there were 2 Chimney Swifts. In LONGMEADOW on West Street we saw 2 Killdeer, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, and a Solitary Sandpiper. Pondside we saw 2 DC Cormorants, 15 Chimney Swifts, 2 Osprey, 3 Warbling Vireos, 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 5 Yellow Warblers, 3 Palm Warblers, and 46 Yellow-rumped Warblers. At Barton Cove there was a Common Merganser and a Common Loon along with 12 DC Cormorants.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Took a walk down at Arcadia this morning after work. Had some good stuff despite the on and off showers. Was not able to make it over to the Ibis Pool to see what was there myself, but others down there had seen a Lesser Yellowlegs and a couple Snipe. Arcadia: Chimney Swifts (4), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (6), Spotted Sandpiper (1), House Wren (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Bluebird (2), Carolina Wren (1), Tree Swallow (17), Chipping Sparrow (5), White Throated Sparrow (8), Song Sparrow (3), Northern Flicker (1), Green Winged Teal (4), Wood Duck (6), Black Duck (1), Mallard (12), Canada Geese (12). Also yesterday I had a Yellow Warbler singing in the Barrett Street marsh at midday.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) There are 3 Blue-headed Vireos around the warbler hill today.

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) I led a small group of BBC'ers though Northfield on a cool, sometimes rainy day today. Overall, numbers of species were down from last year and we worked hard to find the ones we did see. I'll blame it on the cool weather although we found NO Hermit Thrushes and only one Eastern Phoebe...Strange. Here's the list of birds we found: Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Canada Goose (6) Wood Duck (14) Mallard (6) Hooded Merganser (4) Common Merganser Wild Turkey SORA Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Herring Gull Mourning Dove (4) Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker (2) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker (2) Hairy Woodpecker (6) Northern Flicker (3) Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo (4) Blue Jay (6) American Crow (10) Common Raven Tree Swallow (12) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (20, Good day for these when they out number Tree Swallows) Black-capped Chickadee (12) Tufted Titmouse (6) Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch (4) Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2) Eastern Bluebird American Robin (10) European Starling (12) Chestnut-sided Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (4) Black-throated Green Warbler (3) Pine Warbler (3) Palm Warbler Black-and- White Warbler (10) Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow (8) VESPER SPARROW Song Sparrow (8) Swamp Sparrow (2) White-throated Sparrow(3) Dark-eyed Junco (2) Northern Cardinal (5) Red-winged Blackbird (40) Common Grackle (60) Brown-headed Cowbird (30) American Goldfinch (10) House Sparrow(10) 55 Species

LUDLOW (posted to Massbird by Bill Lafley) I spotted 2 Upland Sandpipers at Westover AFB. There was also 3 A. Kestrels, a meadowlark and a killdeer around.